Suspected blood stains collected not far from where body was found in a barrel

The trial continued in London on Tuesday for the accused in the Grant Norton murder case – testimony detailed evidence of suspected blood stains near the scene.

Content warning: The following contains graphic descriptions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

Testifying at the murder trial of a 40-year-old woman in a London courthouse on Tuesday, London Police Forensic Identification Officer Andrea McGrath-Wheatley told a jury that she was called out to the investigation on the day after the body of Grant Norton, 59, was found in a barrel.

She testified that she collected evidence and took photographs inside and outside of the apartment of the accused in this case, Ashley Bourget - who lived at 20 Adelaide Street South.

The court has heard that the inside of the apartment smelled like fresh paint.

Detective-Constable McGrath-Wheatley said she photographed suspected blood stains around the apartment.

She said, “We believed that it was blood found on the foam and green fabric of the couch.”

Suspected blood stains were also located on a baseball bat and hatchet, both of which were shown to the jury.

Officers also found cleaning supplies and gloves around the apartment of the accused.

Norton’s body was found stuffed in a barrel in a wooded lot by the Thames River at Jacqueline St. and Ada St. in July, 2021.

Ashley Bourget has plead not guilty to first degree murder.

The court has heard that both Norton and Bourget were involved in drug trafficking.